Ghalib set to chair wrestling association

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib has stated his willingness to chair the Indonesian Wrestling Association (PGSI), said Endro Soemardjo, chairman of PGSI Jakarta.

Endro said on Saturday that he, together with Robby Nainggolan and Sudradjat, met Ghalib on Friday at Ghalib's office to discuss the proposal.

"Pak Ghalib was very pleased with the offer and vote of trust from the wrestling society. He said he would be ready to chair PGSI and develop the sports in the country," Endro said.

Endro, Robby and Sudradjat were elected in last year's PGSI national congress to be in charge of selecting the organization's officials for 1998 to 2002.

"We are relieved that we carried through with the congress' result to develop and improve the sport by asking Pak Ghalib to be chairman. We'd been trying to meet him for two weeks and only managed to make it happen on Friday," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Ghalib has been in the spotlight over the transcript of a telephone conversation concerning the probe into former president Soeharto that he allegedly had with President B.J. Habibie. The transcript of the alleged conversation was published in a magazine recently.

Endro said Ghalib asked him whether PGSI had the financial resources to develop the sport.

"I said no. We rely on donations to develop wrestling. Today, PGSI only has Rp 1.3 million (US$145) in cash," he said.

Endro said Ghalib seemed ready to try to raise funds for wrestling development. Ghalib, who plays tennis and golf, was reportedly enthusiastic about chairing a sports organization. (yan)